April 18, 2007
GREENVILLE, NC -- Back to back two-run homers by Harrison Eldridge and Stephen Batts in the seventh inning broke up a five-all tie and lifted the Pirates of East Carolina (25-12) to a 9-5 victory over Old Dominion (25-16) Wednesday night.
East Carolina took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second when Ryan Wood led off with a double and scored on designated hitter Kyle Roller's home run to rightfield.
ODU came back in the top of the third with two outs, as Mike Zahm reached on an infield hit, David Burns singled and Anthony Shawler walked to load the bases. Tyler Belcher singled home Zahm and Burns, and Nick Erdman followed with a single to plate Shawler and give ODU a 3-2 lead.
ECU tied the game in the third when Dale Mollenhauer tripled and scored on Stephen Batts infield hit.
Freshman shortstop Gerard Hall hit his first collegiate homer, a solo shot in the top of the fourth
In the bottom of the fifth ECU tied the game as Drew Schieber led off with a double and later scored on a pass ball. In the sixth Ryan Wood slammed his fourth homer of the year to give the Pirates a 5-4 lead.
ECU starter Josh Dowdy retired nine straight batters before Chris Keenan tripled in the seventh. He later scored on a sacrifice fly by Mike Zahm. Zahm's CAA leading 52nd RBI to tied the game at five.
ECU regained the lead in the seventh when Brandon Henderson singled and with one out Harrison Eldridge hit his fourth homer of the season for a 7-5 lead. After Dale Mollenhauer walked, Stephen Batts homered for a 9-5 lead.
Chris Keenan and Nick Erdman led ODU with two hits each.The Monarchs return to action this weekend when they host Delaware in a three-game CAA series beginning Friday at 7 p.m.